Self Timer for M6 TTL

Searching through previous posts I can't seem to find any decent solution for this.

 

I am soon off to Africa with my usual travel combo of two M6 TTLs and a couple of lenses. I need

something that will give me at least 10 to 15 seconds before release, as I need to take photographs of

myself and partner cycling in a wilderness area (for a specific ad campaign). The only other hope is

finding another person with decent photo skills in middle-o-nowhere just when the scenery/weather/

clouds/road is perfect.

 

BTW, before you ask, I also have a D2X but for my kind of trips digital is too large/delicate/dust prone/

preipheral needy, for expedition style cycling. No I don't want to get into a debate about this, but in 9

years of doing these extended remote cycle trips I have never had any problems with the M6s and that's

why they are-a-coming with.

 

Any ideas really welcome. Many thanks.

 

David (UK)<div></div>

There is a mechanical self-timer available for M cameras. I'm not sure what it's called, but someone here will know. They're fairly cheap too. <P>If you can't find one, I'm more than happy to come along for the ride and the press the shutter release at your command. I'd only expect my expenses to be paid.<p><b>: )</b>

There's a page <a href="http://www.nemeng.com/leica/008b.shtml">here</a> which mentions a few alternatives. Ebay would be a good place to look too.

<a href="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LEICA-NIKON-FIT-AUTOKNIPS-SELF-TIMER_W0QQitemZ300039341269QQihZ020QQcategoryZ29982QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem">Autoknips.</a>

Hi David,

 

The following retailer sells self timers for around ?20. http://www.speedgraphic.co.uk/prod.asp?i=6195&1=Mechanical+Self+Timer

 

Failing that I a sure Hama, the german manufacturer sell them.

 

Good hunting.

I still miss the self-timer on my M4/M2s. Oh well. I didn't have very good luck with that mechanical self-timer for my M6s. It fell apart or something. Be sure to actually look at it and make sure it works. I know most have probably had no problems....it's me. Good luck and be sure to let us know what you come up with.

Kodak once made some neat little timers that attached to your cable release. They must have made tons of them because they're still showing up on ebay. Cheap. Totally reliable. Uses things you already have. My kind of tool.

Self timers show up on eBay several times a week. Most were made for the older screw mount Leicas and their clones but many are adaptable to the M. Don't overlook a pneumatic release. It has a long tube and bulb. Set the camera on a tripod, stretch the tube and bulb out to its lenght and ride the bike over the bulb. Presto! Lance Armstrong never had it so good.

Hey, will definately search through ebay for the various timers, but kinda love the idea of

riding over the bulb of

a pnuematic release - do they make them about 30 metres long!

 

thanks

 

David

David:

 

Why bother with antiquated junk on Ebay when you can buy a brand new self timer at B&H?

Check this out:

 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?

O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=63958&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

 

Good luck and enjoy your travels.

Just use a really wide lens and hold the camera at arm's length, pointed towards yourself. ;)

I'd favor the idea of bringing Monkey C.

 

Photos demonstrate that his timing is impeccable. :-)

Frank has the right idea! Of course a self timer is less money than a 15mm lens.

That kind has always been like that, they see and right away they gotta do.

Wow, the four most recent replies about flash, half cases, self timers, and an old separate light meter. Not Leica style, IMHO.

 

Flame of the Week.

David, I posted this picture a few days ago while "boasting" of my little compact pocket-ready accessory Altoid tin, which includes a self timer for my M6. The timer is made in Japan and cost about $25 from my local camera specialist about 2 years ago. This kind of thing is not extremely convenient because you have to thread it in to the shutter button without accidentally triggering the shutter. It uses a tiny gear drive that you cock with the lever to push a pin into the shutter button. After carefully studying the needed throw for an M6 shutter button, I cut off the timer's pin to an optimal length and then filed reference marks on the remaining pin to allow me to easily verify that the timer's collar was holding the pin at the right place. It is effective. This kind of thing works if you have the patience for it.<div></div>

You don't have to cut the pin. There are two rotating collars that can be tightened once the optimal length is determined. It sells at B&H for $20<p>

<a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=63958&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation">LINK HERE</a>

JI recently picked up what looks like a brand new one from DAG Camera for my M6. $15 + S/H. Works great, just tell him you need one for an M6TTl he'll sell you one that works. I had it (I live in Norway) in less than a week.

 

Dag's 'other' items, see item #DAG0246: http://www.dagcamera.com/otheritems.htm

 

Mine is like the black one in a transparent case in this snap http://www.dagcamera.com/s.t.JPG.htm

 

- Carl

Vic, that one at B&H indeed looks like mine, and it looks the same as the one Carl points out in the clear plastic case. I realize that you can set the pin length and lock it with the two collars, but I believe it was still too long in its shortest position to move through the full tip extension and then spring back. If the pin is too long, it will bottom out in the shutter release and applies a lot of pressure, so I cut mine to fire the shutter and spring back after. This was several years ago, and I can't recall with certainty. I may have done this to work with another camera also. In any case it either works perfectly out of the box on everything or is super simple to optimize.